Transaction-Based Fuel Purchase Authorization

• US 20130013431A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Fansler, Thomas S., Konezny, Ronald Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,163,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

Techniques for authorizing fuel purchases based on vehicle available fuel tank capacity. The authorization may be performed on a transaction basis, such that each fueling event may be independently authorized. A current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle is obtained, and transmitted to an authorization entity. An authorization is obtained for dispensing a quantity of fuel that does not exceed the current fuel tank capacity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle;

transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and

obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request for authorization to purchase a quantity of fuel corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request for authorization is ultimately directed to an authorization module capable of limiting the purchase to the quantity of fuel corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the authorization module is implemented by a fuel vendor, and the authorization for the quantity of fuel is provided by way of a fuel card configured to allow fuel to be dispensed for that fuel transaction in the quantity corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity comprises obtaining an authorization for a quantity of fuel substantially corresponding to the current fuel tank capacity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity comprises obtaining the authorization for a quantity of fuel from a fuel vendor by way of a card electronically readable at a fuel dispensing machine.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting the quantity of fuel available to the vehicle for dispensing by causing a fuel dispensing machine to stop dispensing fuel when the authorized quantity of fuel has been dispensed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity comprises determining the current fuel tank capacity in response to initiation of a fuel transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity comprises determining an available capacity for additional fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle at the time of the request for authorization of the fuel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising facilitating user creation of an electronic form to provide the request for authorization of the fuel for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving an estimated current fuel tank capacity from an engine control module equipped on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving an estimated current fuel tank level from an engine control module equipped on the vehicle, and calculating the current fuel tank capacity based on the current fuel tank level and a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving the total fuel tank capacity from a remote source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the remote source comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder, and wherein receiving the total fuel tank capacity from a remote source comprises receiving the total fuel tank capacity from equipment information obtained via the VIN decoder.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the remote source comprises a fuel analysis module capable of providing fuel efficiency modeling for the vehicle and having access to the vehicle'"'"'s equipment information including the total fuel tank capacity.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the current fuel tank capacity comprises subtracting the current fuel tank level from a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the current fuel tank level is provided as a filled percentage of the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank for the vehicle, and wherein calculating the current fuel tank capacity comprises multiplying the filled percentage and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank on that vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the current fuel tank capacity comprises receiving a current fuel tank level from at least one fuel tank level sensor, and determining the current fuel tank capacity from a difference of a maximum fuel tank capacity for that vehicle and the current fuel tank level.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving equipment information including at least the maximum fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle comprises:

wirelessly providing an indication of the current fuel tank capacity from an engine control module; and

receiving the indication of the current fuel tank capacity at a mobile device within wireless transmission range of the engine control module.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity comprises transmitting the current fuel tank capacity via the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an updated current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle after the authorized quantity of fuel has been dispensed, and determining whether the updated current fuel tank capacity substantially corresponds to a total fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising recording an indication of potential fuel theft if the updated current fuel tank capacity does not substantially correspond to a total fuel tank capacity for the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein authorization is further dependent on a location in which the vehicle attempts to dispense the quantity of fuel.

25. A method comprising:

calculating a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle based on a difference between a previously known fuel tank level for the vehicle and a calculated fuel consumption based at least on estimated fuel consumption rate and distance traveled;

providing the calculated current fuel tank capacity to an authorization module;

receiving an authorization of a quantity of authorized fuel from the authorization module; and

making the authorization of the quantity of authorized fuel available at the vehicle to limit a quantity of dispensed fuel to the quantity of authorized fuel.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a fuel tank level indication for a fuel tank in a vehicle;

storage to at least temporarily store a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank;

a processor configured to calculate a quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank based on at least the fuel tank level indication and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an authorization request to an authorization entity to obtain authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank.

27. The apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the receiver comprises an SAE J1939 bus connector, and is coupled to receive the fuel tank level from an engine control module (ECM) via the SAE J1939 bus connector.

28. The apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising a sensor in the fuel tank to sense a level of fuel in the fuel tank, and to provide the sensed level of fuel to the ECM to provide the fuel tank level indication in response thereto.

29. The apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the receiver comprises a wireless receive configured to wirelessly receive the fuel tank level indication from a remote entity that has calculated the fuel tank level indication.

30. The apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate entry of a fuel purchase form that includes the calculated quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank, and wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the fuel purchase form as the authorization request to the authorization entity.

31. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle;

means for transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and

means for obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.

32. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for performing steps comprising:

obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle;

transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and

obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.

33. A system comprising:

an onboard computing device on a vehicle, comprising;

a receiver configured to receive a fuel tank level indication for a fuel tank in a vehicle;

storage to at least temporarily store a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank;

a processor configured to calculate a quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank based on at least the fuel tank level indication and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an authorization request to an authorization entity to obtain authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank; and

a fuel dispensing mechanism coupled to receive the authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank, and to disable dispensing of the fuel after the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank has been dispensed.